Reflection: 6 years + changes ahead
Back Row (Left to Right): Kate VanAsten, Goli Parvinian, Blair Goldman, Courtney Lucansky, Liz Williams. Front Row (Left to Right): Lauren Market, Anna Hovet Dias.
This spring marks a significant milestone for Høvet Fashion Studio, as we celebrate six years in business. Many people ask me why I closed my fashion line and started this business. Like many of my career endeavors, it was an unplanned natural progress from one to the other. After running my fashion line for nine years, I just could not hit the profit margins to make a comfortable living. Despite learning so much about manufacturing, sales, and the industry, I had little to show for it financially. This realization wasn't unique to me; many talented fashion peers in Chicago faced similar challenges, hindered by the absence of large corporate fashion companies in Chicago. Recognizing a gap in the market - customers eager to learn fashion without committing to formal education and a surplus of underemployed designers - Høvet Fashion Studio was born.
We had luck on our side as our inception coincided with 2020, amidst a landscape influenced by low-interest business loans, surplus funds, and newfound time, we witnessed a surge in new fashion startups, poised for growth. It was during this time that Lauren Markt joined our team. Her talent and experience in product development helped us create another segment to our business: Full Apparel Development Packages.
Lauren has helped bring over 30 emerging fashion brands into existence. She is now leaving us to pursue a promising career opportunity in Los Angeles. We are so proud of her and the work she’s done for us. Because Lauren was such an integral part of our Full Development services, we'll be phasing our development and production services out this month, but we will still be available for hourly consulting.
Looking ahead, Høvet Fashion Studio will pivot its focus towards our hobbyist clients, maintaining a fun and encouraging educational atmosphere for students who want to create their own clothes. Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering as we expand our group classes and enhance our facilities. Our instructors are the best in the business and we’ll continue to be the premier fashion destination in Chicago for learning sewing, pattern-making, illustration, and portfolio prep. -Anna
